https://3speak.tv/watch?v=tahastories1/jnvhiyfmkz
It was 21 February 2024. We traveled to the walled city of Lahore. There is no comparison to Lahore. I hold so much love for this city. I find my soul in geometrical patterns, and Lahore has those geometrical patterns.
Delhi Gate,Lahore - one of the oldest surviving gates in Lahore city
I have visited lahore almost hundreds of times. I don't count still my cravings are not ending. With each visit, my cravings to see each and every ancient brick increase.
A girl sitting on a bench in front of an artist's shop
We walked through old and ancient Delhi Gate , and so many people were walking. The majority of them were capturing photos. I saw a girl who was sitting on a wooden bench and reading book, i assume.
Gates of shops were closed because it was prayer time. People went to pray, and we were visiting the androon[walled] Lahore.
We,four friends, were walking in pairs. Moaz and moazam were ahead of us. I don't know why they were in so much hurry. They were not stopping,standing, and observing anything with a calm mind. Instead of it, they were letting everything go like they just came here to capture photos but not to live moment.
I have rule -" Whatever you do, do it with full heart otherwise don't bother yourself."
But, that day, my friends were so speedy. They were doing exploration on 2x speed, which was insane. Even faces were rude to each other.
I let them go away and followed my heart. I went to Sabil wali Gali. It's a street adjoined to Delhi Gate. This street speaks history and aesthetically beautiful. It's all thanks to the government for highlighting the worn-out pages of history and investing in such projects.
Abdullah sahi @sahi1 was walking with me. I was happy that he was also enjoying and living these moments. He was admiring these decorations. He wanted to stay for long, but i knew that other pairs would be getting angry over us.
jharoka-a wooden window/balcony that projects from the wall - this architectural form is identical to Mughal era buildings and heavily found in India and Pakistan
Soon, we came out of Sabil wali Gali and we started walking, a little faster, in the Bazaar. Bazaar was full of hustle bustle and life. People were walking, motorcycling, and running to complete their chores. The full vibrance of the bazaar was catching the heartbeat. I wanted to stop on every corner because every point contained a package of history.
[//]:# (!worldmappin 31.58328 lat 74.32361 long d3scr)
Here comes the splendor facade of Masjid Wazir Khan. It is standing on an elevated plinth. On both sides of main facade, there are some shops that were part of "waqf"- it means that whatever rent from these shops will come, that will be used for renovation of Masjid and for other purposes related to Masjid. This entrance is inspired by persian architecture and called as iwan is a rectangular hall or space projecting from facade. It is prominent in persian architecture. Infact, this complete Masjid is inspired from persian architecture with local lahori architectural mixer.
I stood around the iwan, main gateway, for a while to observe and absorb the beauty of Kashi Kari(an architectural technique of tile work),fresco and calligraphy on the walls. This masjid's artwork is leaving every masjid behind.
By looking above on your head, you will see fresco work which are designed in Murqanas- its another persian architectural technique to make 3d designs.
The entrance leads me in an octagonal chamber, standing in the middle of waqf bazar shops. A beautifully adorned light was hanging in the middle of the chamber.
We both took off our shoes and submitted them to a person who was sitting there in order to take care of the shoes.
courtyard with a central pond for wadu(ablution)
Sun rays were striking on face while stepping into the main courtyard. Renovation of minarets was going on. It was the best time to visit. We were lucky enough that there was almost no one. Only a few visitors were walking and closing seeing the walls.
Moazam came to me and he said; let's go from here, there's nothing see.
His statement left me opened mouth. How he cannot see the beauty of geometrical patterns and how he can be so ignorant person? This was really strange. I am so blessed to have eyes and to witness the beauty of masjid. It was my third visit to masjid but i was more excited than my pervious times. I looked at minarets and domes. I saw the bricks that were pressed in patterns and sequence.
This building (above) was the main purpose for the construction of the masjid. Previously, there was a small shrine of a sufi saint Miran Badshah. Later on, Hakim Ilm ud din who is also known as Wazir khan built this masjid. It took many years from 1635 to 1641.
Ok, while standing under the roof of this tomb, we met a British writer. She writes about architecture and she told us that these octagonal structures on the roof are representing the transition between duniya(this world) and jannah(the world after). She also told us about her new launching book and requested us to come to literary fest. It was nice meeting with her.
Prayer hall was heavily decorated with different architectural styles, techniques and with fresco work. Calligraphy on the walls was so synchronized that it left thoughts in our mind-" how they made everything without any mistake in Geometry?"
Behind every motif, every design, pattern and floral fresco work, there is a complete concept. I often thought that why there are so many floral pattens and illustrations of fruits on the walls of Mughal Masjids? Thankfully, i got my answer that these designs are referring to the Heaven. In Quran, Heaven is described as world with fruits and everything. Everything includes infinite things that are not even allowed in this world.
When we came out of the masjid, we stopped to see the paintings displayed next to the calligraphy shops. There was a funny thing happend;
I took permission from the artist to take picture of the art work and he gave me permission. Along with me, Abdullah sahi also took a click. On this act, artist addressed sahi and told him to submit 70,000 PKR as fine because he didn't take permission.
Over it, sahi was frightened and he was looking afraid. On seeing his face, the artist laughed and said, " I was kidding.
I also sat on a vibrant Rickshaw that was parked near the Masjid and posed for a picture.
On my way back, i found many colors in the bazaar. Like these parandas hanging on the wall.
I hope you loved this travel💫
Ramadan Mubarak to everyone!
